Valve control for subsurface well tools



March 9, 1954 B. E. MATER VALVE CONTROL FOR SUBSURFACE WELL TOOLS Filed Aug. 17, 1948 w o 4 O J aaa www H 6 w w @22 Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT orifice ernardus l\`[ater, Santa ltlonica,f( 3 a-lii"., earssignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Vernon, Calif., a. corporation of California Application August 17, 194s, sria1No.44,743 oiiis. (o1. 166411) The present invention relates to well tools', and more particularly to valveinechai'sms forming part of such tools, especially useful in connection with the cementin'g, acidizirig, washing; pro' duction, etc. of oil 'and gas wells'.

Some forms of sublsurface well tools used in the cementing of a well bore embody valvedevice which is subject to the pressure of the fluid in the tubing strings connected to the well tools. The fluid pressure diiierenti'al within `the tubing string and well tool over the external pressure tends to maintain the valve device in closed position 4and renders it diiic'ult to move the Valve to open position when desired. As an example, a valve member, which moves downwardly into engagement with a cooperable valve seat, may be subjected to a hydrostati'had ofY cement slurry within the tubing stririgpwhiclijtendsto Keep the valve memberl in 'closed position and imposes substantial OI'C lsis'tirigrfbs I'lieint' t'- open position. Similar Conditions may b' encountered in wens with` low iii'd levels, or in `which the formation is' taking noie. Tnelhydrostatic head within the' tubing stringi anrtooronone side of the valve member would be substantially greater than the offsetting pressure acting I the'other side of the valve member, resulting intliev n1- dency for such valve' member to remain inf closed position.

Accordingly, it is" object of the' present in",- vention to' provide a valve device awell tool,Y in which thevalve can be' opened' with' comparative ease despiterthe presen e of subs antial forcs", such as hydros'tatic: heads of fluid, tending' to keep the valve closed. v t r Another object of th invention is to provide'V a valve device in a well tool", which caribe' main'- tained in open position without tlfiedanger of the valve being permitted to` rrov' inadvertently to closed position. l e

This' invention possesses many th'er'advan.- tages, and has other ,objectswhichf maybe-made more clearly apparent from a considerationof a form in which it may be enb'di'ed." form is shown in tl'ie drawings acmpanying'..and forming part'of the present specication. Itjwill now be described' in' detail,` for. the-,purposezof illustrating the general principles ofthe invention; but'it is to be understood that s ucli` detailed description is not toibe taken ina limitingsense, since the scope of the invention is best dened by the appendedfclaims. l

Rigrrine to the drawings;

Figure 1 isa longitudinal sectionhthrougli'a well tool locatedin a wellvcasingwith its valve device inl closed position Fig.2 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, through the valve device, with the parts in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig 2, with the valve device in open position; and l K Fig. 4 isa cross-section taken along the line 6 4 on Fig. 2. i

The invention. is disclosed in.; the drawings as applied to a well packer of.. atypedesignedto force fluid under pressure through the perfo ations of a-well casing.. It. is. to b e understood; however, that it has application to any ,type of well tool, through which fluid ow is to be controlled. ...r1.1

Specically, thewell tool. consistsfofwa body Il), suitably secured as bythreading to thelower end of a string `of tubing or drill pipe I I Lby, means of which the tool is conveyed through; ther well casing I2 to the desired operating vpoint therein; The body consists of an upper bodymember I3, a lower body member I4, and an intermediate body member I5 .connecting the upper and lower members together in spaced relation. The gen;- eral type of well tool shownl is anpacker described andV claimed in Vthe application of. Charles Costello, Serial No. 391,548, iiledMay I2, 1941, for Well Devices,` now Patent No. 2,466,305,

The upper and' lower portions of thegtool are substantial duplicates, being connectedto the intermediate body member I5 in opposed relation. A' description of the upper portion should suc for' the lower portion as well.. f

The upper body member I3 includesA-anelongate mandrel or nippleA IS having a sub Il screwedon its upper end, and a lower ported ,sub I B `seciirei to its lower end. One or more packing cups 6 0, 6I of rubber orsimilar material are suitabIysecured on the mandrel; with the lower ,cups/,6 0 facing downwardly and the .upper cupgl `rfacing upwardly. These packing cupsgare adapted for slidable sealing Vengagement withthegwall of the wellv casing l2 toprevent both upward anddownward flow .offluidbetween` the upper body memb'e'r I3 and the casingwalh; Ani upper. by-pass' tube 20 is positioned within the upper body member` to provide an annular space Y 2l' therewith. Its. upper,y member. is threaded'v into a byfpass T 22, which; is suitA bly secured, as by w'elding, to the upper by-pasls sub I'I, through which it opens outwardlyintocthe tubing-casing annulus 23 above the upper paci@- ing 6I. The lower endA ofthe.by7pass.tube 42 0 extends through an inner flangeVV Non the u Sub Iioniainiag a, rodrakins 25.5`- p-sd 'fn leakproof engagement against the;enteric;` v.of the tube by a suitable packing nut 26, to'pr'e' vlower end of the tool.

downward iiow of fluid through the annulus 2| beyond the ilange 24.

As stated above, the construction of the lower tool portion is substantially the same as the upper, with the parts facing in the opposite direction, so that uid passage between the lower body member I4 and casing wall in both upward and downward directions is prevented, and upward flow of fluid through the lower annulus 2 la beyond the flange 24a is prevented by the ange 24a, packing 25a and packing nut 26a surroundthe lower by-pass tube 20a. For convenience in designation, the lower parts are numbered the same as the corresponding upper parts with the suix a added.

The upper and lower tool portions are held together in spaced relation by the intermediate body member I5, which actually forms part of the by-pass of the tool. This intermediate body member is secured to the upper and lower subs -f I8, I8a and may be made of any length desired, depending upon the spacing required between the upper and lower packing cups 69, 90a. The bypass around the packings extends from a point outside the tool below the lowermost packing @la to a point outside the tool above the uppermost packing I. More specically, this by-pass passage is constituted by the lower T 22a, lower bypass tube a, intermediate body member I5, upper by-pass tube 20, and upper by-pass T 22.

The upper sub I8 is provided with one or more upper outlets or ports 21 adjacent the packing cup 60 and ange 24, and the lower sub Iia is similarly provided with one or more lower outlets or ports 21a adjacent the lower packing cup 69a and ilange 24a. Fluid cannot pass directly from the upper body annulus 2| to the lower body annulus Zla because of the ilanges and packings around the by-pass tubes, but must pursue an indirect course. The fluid may be pumped downwardly through the tubing Ii into the upper body member annulus 2l, exiting through the upper ports 21 into the localized annular zone 28 defined by the upper and lower packings 60, 59a and by the intermediate body member I5 and casing I2. This iluid may flow downwardly through the Zone and enter the lower body member I4 through the lower ports 21a, where the fluid can pass downwardly through the annulus Zla around the lower by-pass tube 20a into a valve body or housing 29 screwed into the lower end of the lower sub |111. The fluid `may then pass through the valve outlets or ports 30 in the housing to the exterior of the tool 23a below the lower packing cup Sla, from where it y may ow upwardly into the lower by-pass T 22a, through the lower by-pass tube 20a, intermediate by-pass member I5, tube 20, and upper bypass T 22, into the tubing-casing annulus 23 above the upper packing cup 6I.

The allowing of the fluid to pursue the course just described is dependent upon the control of the fluid flow through the valve ports 33 at the Such control is obtained through a valve mechanism including a ball valve member 10 disposed within the housing 29 and adapted to move downwardly into seating engagement with a valve seat 1I secured in the valve housing 29. The valve seat 1I is clamped 'between an upper valve housing portion 29a and a lower housing portion 29h threaded onto 'the lupper portion. The ports 39 extend through the .wall of the lower housing portion below the valve seat 1 I.

The ball 10 is elevated from its seat, to allow iluid flow around the ball valve 10, through the seat 1I and out through the ports 30, by means of a tubular stem 'I2 disposed in the lower housing portion 29h and threadedly secured to a head 13, which is threadedly connected to the lower housing portion by interengaging right hand threads 14 formed on the head and the housing. A rod 15 is integral with, or otherwise secured to, the head 13 and depends through an end closure 15 secured to the housing 29h. This rod has a drag device 11 attached to it, which, in the present instance, consists of a lower collar 35 and guide 36 threaded on the rod, with a plurality of outwardly bowed drag springs 31 secured to the lower collar and extending upwardly for attachment to an upper collar 38 slidably mounted on the rod.

The drag device resists rotation of the rod 15, and of the head 13 and tubular stem 12 connected to it, within the casing I2. Thus, rotation of the tubular string I I, packer body I0 and valve housing 29 as a unit in one direction, as to the right, will eiect their downward movement, or relative upward movement of the rod 15, threaded head 13 and valve stem 12 within the housing 29, in order that the upper end 12a of the stem can engage the ball valve 10 and elevate it from its seat 1I. Similarly, rotation of the tubing string II, packer body I0 and valve housing 29 in the opposite direction, or to the left, will cause the tubular stem 12 and rod 13 to shift relatively downward in the opposite direction, in which position the stem 12 becomes disengaged from the ball valve 10 and allows it to reengage its companion seat 1I.

When the valve is in closed position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, fluid under pressure within the tool above the ball valve member 10 acts downwardly upon it and tends to hold it engaged against its valve seat 1I. During the time that pressure is acting downwardly on the ball valve member, the latter can still be elevated from its seat by rotating the tubing string I I, packer body I0 and valve housing 29 as a unit to the right, which will cause the valve housing 29 to thread relatively downward on the rod head 13, until the ball valve 10 is removed from its seat 1I. The mechanical advantage afforded by the threaded connection 14 permits a comparatively low torque or turning effort, and resistance to rotation offered by the drag springs 31 against the casing wall, to be converted into a considerably larger force of the tubular stem 12 pushing the ball valve 10 upwardly from its seat 1 I. Since the threaded connection 14 is self-locking, the tubular stem 12 will maintain the ball valve from its seat, despite the tendency of downwardly directed iluid forces to keep the ball 10 on its seat 1I.

A representative use of the valve mechanism in question is in connection with the cementing of a casing. The tool disclosed in Fig. 1 is lowered through the well casing I2 until the inner packing cups 60, a are disposed on opposite sides of casing perforations 59, through which cement slurry or other cementitious material is to be ejected. During this running-in operation, if desired, the rod head 13 may be disposed in an upper position within the housing, in order that the stem 12 will hold the ball valve 10 from its seat 1I. This permits the well fluid to flow through the ports 30 and upwardly through the tool, as well as in a reverse direction. Even with the ball valve 10 on its seat 1 I, and with the rod 15 and stem 12 in a lower position within the housing 29, the iiuid could still ow upwardly through the tool by automatically unseating the ball valve 10.

With the packing cups 60, 60a disposed on opposite sides of the casing perforations 59, the tubing string and packer body l and housing 29 connected thereto, are rotated to the right. Since the drag springs 31 resist rotation of the rod 15 and tubular stem 12l the latter are caused to shift relatively in an upward direction until the stern 12 engages the ball 10 and elevates it from its seat 1|. Circulating fluids may be pumped down the tubing string l with the valve in open position, as illustrated in Fig. 3, passing through the upper annulus 2| and out through the upper ports 21 into the localized zone'ZSl be;- tween the packing members 60, 60a, thence into the lower ports 21a and lower lannular passage 2|a. From this passage, the fluids ow into the valve housing 29, around the ball valve 10, through the valve seat 1|, and out through the ports 30 to a point below the lowermost packing members Sla. The fluid then may proceed upwardly through the by-pass passage 22a, 20a, |5, 20, 22, discharging into the tubing-casing annulus 23 above the upper packing member 6|' for continued upward movement through such annulus to the top of the well bore.

A charge of cement slurry may be' started down the tubing string and when its lower end is near the well tool, the tubing string is rotated to the left several revolutions, in order to relatively feed the non-rotating rod 15 and tubular stem 12 downwardly of the housing 29 to a position which the valve ball 1|) may enigage its seat 1|, thus closing the valve and the ports 30 to passage of fluids between the interior of the well tool and the exterior of the well tool below the lowermost packing Sla'.

The cement slurry passes fromA the lower end of the tubular string through the upper annulus 2| in the body and out throughV the upper ports 21, being forced under pressure through the casing perforations 59' for disposition behind the well casing |'2`. Such cement slurry cannot flow through the lower portsy 21a. into the lower body member I4, since the valve is closed position and uid in the lower portions of the bodymember I4 is prevented from passing downwardly and out throughf the ports 30'.

Following the deposition of the required amount of cement slurry through the perforations 59, the tubing string body |0 andvalve housing 29' maybe rotated to the right; in order to effect relative upwardffeedingY of the rod 15, cause the stem 12 to engage the ball valvef 1U and elevate it from its seat. 1|. This opens the ports 3|? and allows washing fluidto bei pumped down the tubing string ||,v forcing any excess cement slurry in the tubing string ahead of it. This slurry is caused to flow through the upper annulus 2| and upper port 21 into the localized zone 28, then through the lower port 21a and lower annulus 2| a, from where it passes around the ball valve 1U and through the seat 1|, exhausting through the valve ports 30. Such excess cement slurry, followed by the washing fiuid, tially down through the tubing-casing annulus i5, 20, 22, into the annulus 23 above the upper packing 6|, for passage to the top of the well bore and appropriate disposal.

The excess cement slurry may also be disposed of by circulating the washing fluid in a direction reverse to that described. The uid passes initially down through the tubing-casing annulus 23, throughY the'by-pass passage-and the ports 3u for upward flowing around the valve member arid through the body passages 2 Id, 2| and ports 21d, 21 into the tubing string v| The excess ef'net slurry is carried upwardly through the Atubing string to the top of the well bore.

In the event that the' excess cehetslurry is to be disposed ofY by pumping the washing iiid down the tubing string, conditions sometimes render it difficult to move or'ele'v'ate' the valve member 10 toopen position. Asfarr example, in the event that there is an extended column of excess cement slurry present inthe tubing sti-ing of a thousand feet, the hydrostatic Head f cement slurry acting' downwardly oir the ball valve member 10 exerts' a substantial downward closing force thereon.- This-forcein-ay be siib= stantially greater than the friction for' of the drag springs 31 against the wall ofthe weit oase ing |2. Despite this over-balancing o'f` foifes tending to keep the valve closed, the latter may stili ine-elevated readiiy because of the :finitioncation of the turning effort of' the' tubing stririg body l0 and housing" 20 ori the tubular steii 12, through the threadedinterconnection. 14 yfoetween the rod head Ta and the v alve housi'rfgrzsb.

When` in its upper' position, the stern'k '|21 holds the ball valve 10 from its seat 1t, and arrows the tubing string and welll tooi to" be" elevatedy iii the weil casing l2 without danger off the bal-ii valve 10 reengaging its seat.y The threaded-in terconnection 14 is self-locking, and will'` not permit downward movement oiitlrerodtubular stem 12 unless the tubing string" t? is' rotatedin the proper direction. Assurance is therefor-e had that the Valve member 10' will? remain open position wheneverdesired, as" during: down: ward pumping' of fluids through! the well t'ooi to remove excess cement slurry fromtlie tubing and tool, or during' elevation' oi tHe tool? within the casing string.

It is, according!y',y apparent that a valve device for a well tool has-l been: disclosed which can'y be opened against a comparatively high` pressure differential, tending to" kif-iep'v it' in closed'posrtion readilythrough the simpler expedient: of rotating thev tubing string. In' addition,` the* valve: can be maintained in' open' positiom whenever desired without danger of its inadvertez'it'` closing.

1. In a well tool :L tubularmeans:adaptedtbfbe lowered in a well conduit' and having an' oritletl;4

` a valve seat in said tubular means above said outlet; a valvey memb'ermovabledownwardiy'into engagement with said; seat;` rod means.' in? said tubular meansf and depending from vsaid.- tubular means;Y said` rod. means:Y beingv adapted? to7 act upon said member to elevate itr from said seat; means. providingV av threaded? connection between said rodV means' anclztubularmeans; a'y drag: device connected*` to' said rod m'eans and= frictio'nally engageable with said conduit; stop means detachably secured to said tubular means; and stop means on said rod means engageable with the stop means on said tubular means to limit the extent of lowering movement of said rod means relative to said tubular means.

2. In a well tool: tubular means adapted to be lowered in a well bore and having an outlet; a valve seat in said tubular means above said outlet; a ball valve member movable downwardly into engagement with said seat; instrumentalities threadedly connected to said tubular means and engageable with said ball valve member for lifting it from said seat in response to rotation of said tubular means; a drag device connected to said instrumentalties and frctionally engageable with said conduit; stop means detachably secured to said tubular means; and stop means on said instrumentalities engageable with the stop means on said tubular means to limit the extent of lowering movement of said instrumentalities relative to said tubular means.

3. In a well tool: tubular means adapted to be lowered in a well conduit and having an outlet; a valve seat in said tubular means above said outlet; a ball valve member movable downwardly into engagement with said seat; rod means in said tubular means engageable with said ball valve member to lift it from said seat, said rod means depending from said tubular means; means providing a threaded connection between said rod means and tubular means; a drag device connected to said rod means and frictionally engageable with said conduit; stop means detachably secured to said tubular means; and stop means on said rod means engageable with the stop means on said tubular means to limit the extent of lowering movement of said rod means relative to said tubular means.

4. In a well tool: tubular means adapted to be lowered in a well conduit and including a valve housing provided with an outlet; a valve seat in said housing above said outlet; a valve member movable downwardly in said housing into engagement with said seat; rod means in said housing engageable with said valve member to lift it from said seat; means providing a threaded connection between said rod means and housing; a closure detachably secured to said housing and through which said rod means extends; means on said rod means engageable with said closure to limit the extent of lowering movement of said rod means relative to said housing; and a drag device connected to said rod means below said closure and frictionally engageable with said conduit.

5. In a well tool: tubular means adapted to be lowered in a well conduit and including a valve housing provided with an outlet; a valve seat in said housing above said outlet; a valve member movable downwardly in said housing into engagement with said seat; rod means in said housing engageable with said valve member to lift it from said seat; means providing a threaded connection between said rod means and housing; a closure detachably secured to said housing and through which said rod means extends; means on said rod means engageable with said closure to limit the extent of lowering movement of said rod means relative to said housing; and means connected to said rod means below said closure for enabling said housing to be rotated relative to said rod means.

6. In a well tool: tubular means adapted to be lowered in a well conduit and including a valve housing provided with an outlet; a valve seat in said housing above said outlet; a ball valve member movable downwardly in said housing into engagement with said seat; rod means in said housing separate from and engageable with said ball valve member to lift it from said seat; means providing a threaded connection between said rod means and housing; a closure detachably secured to said housing and through which said rod means extends; means on said rod means engageable with said closure to limit the extent of lowering movement of said rod means relative to said housing; and means on said rod means below said closure for enabling said housing to be rotated relative to said rod means.

7. In a wellA tool: tubular means adapted to be lowered in a well conduit and including a valve housing provided with an outlet; a valve seat in said housing above said outlet; a valve member movable downwardly in said housing into engagement with said seat; rod means in said housing engageable with said valve member to lift it from said seat; means providing a threaded connection between said rod means and housing; a closure detachably secured to said housing and through which said rod means extends; said threaded connection including a head threaded in said housing above said closure and engageable with said closure to limit the extent of lowering movement of said rod means relative to said housing; and a drag device connected to said rod means below said closure and frictionall;7 engageable with said conduit.

8. In a well tool: tubular means adapted to be lowered in a well conduit and including a valve housing provided with an outlet; a valve seat in said housing above said outlet; a valve member movable downwardly in said housing into engagement with said seat; rod means in said housing engageable with said valve member to lift it from said seat; means providing a threaded connection between said rod means and housing; a closure detachably secured to said housing and through which said rod means extends; said threaded connection including a head threaded in said housing above said closure and engageable with said closure to limit the extent of lowering movement of said rod means relative to said housing; and means on said rod means below said closure for enabling said housing t0 be rotated relative to said rod means.

BERNARDUS E. MATER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,215,599 Tullberg et al Sept. 24, 1940 2,301,624 Holt Nov. 10, 1942 2,306,368 Brown Dec. 29, 1942 2,466,305 Costello Apr. 5, 1949 

